Combined stalk-cutter and roller.



J. J. NOHR.

COMBINED STALK CUTTER AND ROLLER. APPLICATION FILED FEB.28,1913

Patented Mar.v 10, 19M

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

(22/024; JQl/Zh;

Inventor Attorneys J. J. NOHR.

COMBINED STALK CUTTER AND ROLLER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, x913.

1 Q89,94 8 Patented Mar. 10, 191 i 2 SHBBT8-SHET 2.

Jul/Z14 OLA/0 in ventor Attorneys Witnesses STATES AiENT @FFKCE.

JULIUS J. NOI-IR, 0F CROFTON, NEBRASKA.

COMBINED STALK-CUTTER AND ROLLER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUs J. Norm, a citizen of the United States,residing at Crofton, in the county of Knox and State of Nebraska, haveinvented a new and use ful Combined Stalk-Cutter and Roller, of whichthe following is a specification.

One object of the present invention is to provide novel mechanismwhereby the supporting wheel of a comblned stalk cutter and roller maybe manipulated from the drivers seat.

Another object of the invent-ion is to provide novel means forsupporting the roller carrying frame when the same is elevated to bringthe rollers out of engagement wlth the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means forassembling the cutting blades with the roller.

It is within the scope of the invention to improve generally and toincrease the utility of, devices of that type to which the pres entinvention appertains.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention can be made within the scope of what is claimedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan; Fig. 2 is a side elevation,showing the frame of the machine elevated, to bring the combined rollerand stalk cutter out of engagement with the ground; Fig. 3 is a sideelevation showing the frame depressed, so that the roller and stalkcutter is engaged with the ground; Fig. 4 is a fragmental transversesection of the frame; Fig. 5 is a trans verse section of the roller; andFig. 6 is a perspective detail showing a portion of the mechanismwhereby the stalk cutting blades are assembled with the roller.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a frame 1, comprisingside bars 2 connected at their forward ends by front cross bars 3 and 1,and connected adjacent their rear ends by rear cross bars 5 and 6.Suitable draft rigging of any desired form, indicated by the numeral 7,is connected with the forward portion of the frame 1.

Secured to the side bars 2 0f the frame 1 Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed February 28, 1913.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914. Serial No. 751,353.

are bearings 8 provided intermediate their ends with depending lugs 3.Cranks 10 are provided, the forward ends of the cranks 10 beingjournalcd in the depending lugs 9 of the bearings 8, as shown at 11.Ground wheels 12 are jo'urnaled for rotation upon the rear, lower endsof the cranks 10. Links 14 are pivotally connected as indicated at 15with the cranks 10 adjacent their lower ends, the rear upper ends of thelinks 14 bemg pivotally connected as indicated at 1.6 with the forwardlyand upwardly project- 1ng angularly disposed ends 17 of levcrs 18, thelovers 18 being fulcrumcd as indicated at 19 upon the side bars 2 of theframe 1.

The levers 18 include handles 20 which extend transversely of theframe 1. the handies 20 being upwardly inclined, and their inner endsbeing disposed in close relation with a seat 21 carried by a support 22.the forward end of the support 22 being secured to the rear cross bars 5and 6. A retractilc spring 23 is connected with each of the handles 20of the lovers, the forward ends of the springs 23 being secured to theside bars 2 of the frame 1. Each lever 18 carries suitable latchmechanism 24, adapted to cooperate with a segment which is secured tothe side bars 20f the frame.

Connected with the rear cross bars 56 is a depending bracket 26 in whicha standard 27 is mounted to slide longitudinally and to rotate, theupper end of the standard being slidable and rotatably received in theforwardly extended portion of the support 22 between the rear cross bars5 and (i. J ournaled upon the lower end of the stand ard 27 is a boss 28carrying an auxiliary wheel 29. Above the bracket 26, the standard 27 isequipped with an abutment 30. receiving the lower end of a spring 31,the upper end of which abuts against the forwardly extended portion ofthe support 22. Journalcd for rotation in the bearings 8, directly abovethe forward ends of the cranks 10 is a shaft 32 upon which is mount-- edto rotate, independently, a pair of ground engaging rollers. The rollersare of identical construction, and but one of them will be described,and in this connection it may be stated that the rollers may bevariously formed, without jeopardizing the utility of the invention. Inthe present instance. although not necessarily. each roller comprises apair of internal, terminal rims 33, supporting a plurality oflongitudinally cX- tended segments 34, the segments being secured to therims 33 in any desired manner.

Each roller comprises rigid end plates 35 which may be held in place bymeans of longitudinally extended tie rods 36. Each roller includes aplurality of parallel, inter-- secting spokes 37, connected with the rim33, the spokes 37 at their point of intersection supporting a bearing38, the shaft 32 being of circular form, so as to rotate in the bearings38.

Located between the rollers is a division plate 39, seen most clearly inFig. 4, the division plate 39 preferably being held on the cross bars 3through the medium of brackets 40, although the division plate 39 may beassembled with the frame of the machine in any other suitable manner.

Around the ends of the rollers and inclosing the segments 34, extendbands 41, the bands 41 preferably being fashioned in two parts, theparts of the bands being equipped with outstanding ears 42, connected bysecuring elements 43. The parts of the bands 41 support cutting blades45 which preferably lie at a small angle with respect to the axis of theroller. If desired, angle brackets 44 may be riveted to the parts of thebands 41, the angle bracketsv 44 being rigidly secured to the blades 45.The angle brackets 44 are disposed in pairs and the blades 45 liebetween the members of each air.

p As will be understood readily, presupposing that the parts arepositioned as shown in Fig. 2, the handles .20 of the levers 18 may bedrawn rearwardly, without necessitating the operator leaving the seat21. Under the circumstances above pointed out, the ends 17 of the leverswill be elevated, the links 14 drawing upwardly upon the cranks 10 andeflecting a depression of the frame 1, so that the rollers are broughtinto contact with the ground, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. During thatoperation which consists in moving the parts from the positions shown inFig. 3, to the positions shown in Fig. 2, the springs 23 which, in Fig.3 are under tension, will aid in the restoration of the parts to theiroriginal positions.

When the rollers are lowered into contact with the ground, as shown inFig. 3, the standard 27 will slide in the bracket 26 and in theforwardly extended portion of the seat support 22, the spring 31 beingput under compression. When the roller is in contact with the ground, asshown in Fig. 3, the compressed spring 31 will aid in supporting therear portion of the frame 1, without interfering with the engagementbetween the rollers and the ground.

Since the handles 20 of the levers 18 extend across the top of the frameand since these handles 20 are to be manipulated from the drivers seat21, the play given to the handles 20 will be somewhat limited.

It will be understood readily that when the structure is to be used as aroller, as distinguished from a stalk cutter, the blades 45 may bedetached by removing the securing elements 43 out of the ears 42 of theparts of the bands 41. Under such circumstances, the stalk cuttingmechanism will come away from each roller in two parts, each partcomprising a pair of approximately semi-circular bands connected by aplurality of transverse blades, The operation of removing the stalkcutting mechanism from the roller, therefore, may be effected rapidly,simply by removing from each roller, the securing elements 43 whichunite the ends of the part of the bands 41.

The division plate 39 serves to support the intermediate portion of theshaft 32 for rotation, it serves as a brace for the frame, and serves toseparate the roller.

Owing to the fact that the rollers are individually journaled forrotation upon the shaft 32, it will be obvious that one roller willcontinue to rotate, should the rotation of the other roller be impededby engagement with a stump or like object.

It is to be noted that the forward ends of the cranks 10 are pivotallyconnected with the lugs 9 directly below the shaft 32. As a consequence,the operation of raising and lowering the frame is facilitated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a deviceof the class described, a vertically movable frame; a soil engagingmember fixed on the frame for vertical movement with the frame; a casterwheel vertically movable on the frame independently of the frame andlocated to the rear of the soil engaging member; resilient means forlimiting the upward movement of the caster wheel; soil engagingsupporting means vertically movable upon the frame independently of theframe and located between the soil engaging member and the caster wheel;and mechanism for raising and lowering the supporting means.

2. In a device of the class described, a vertically movable frame; asoil engaging member fixed on the frame for vertical movement with theframe; a standard mounted in the frame for rotation and for verticalsliding movement; a spring surrounding the standard and engaging. theframe to limit the upward movement of the standard; a ground wheeljournaled on the lower end of the standard; soil engaging supportingmeans vertically movable upon the frame independently of the frame-andlocated between the ground wheel and the soil engaging member; andmechanism for raising and lowering the supporting means.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame including cross bars; aseat; a support upholding the seat and connected with the cross bars; abracket secured to the cross bars; a standard mounted to slide in thebracket and in the support; a spring surrounding the standard andabutting at one end against the support; a fixed abutment on thestandard, located above the bracket and receiving the other end of thespring; a caster Wheel supported by the standard; a

soil engaging member carried by the frame; and means for raising andlowering the frame, independently of the caster Wheel and the soilengaging member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JULIUS J. NOHR.

Witnesses:

OTTO BooNER, CONRAD KUEHLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addreninzthe Commlnloner o! Petenta, Washington, D. 0.

